Freaking out about customs!

[stacy_de_lin]

Ok, so I'm shipping a whole bunch of stuff. From what I have read, things are very random there as to how they are priced for customs. I have some questions:

My husband and I will both bring our laptops and an Xbox on the plane with us. Total value of all: about $5000 (my husband has a top of the line laptop for work). Should we just skip bringing receipts? I can't possibly imagine that they would estimate the price to be that high, so I'm hoping with no receipts they will estimate a lower price amount and then tax on that. And I'm still not sure what the tax will actually be-- 5%? 10%?


Also, we will be shipping quite a few boxes via Amerijet. It will arrive there a few days before us and wait at the Frequente office. Most is household stuff and toiletries that I'm not worried about being charged for. I do have one big item of concern: a heavy and new portable air conditioning unit. It cost about $300 and looks new, so that might be a concern since some on the forum advised that if it looks like it can be resold, it will be taxed heavily. I was prepared to pay the shipping fees, but I don't want to get there and pay another $300 or something on it. Also, I don't have the receipt, so who knows what will happen. Maybe I should just try and sell it here and forget the whole thing? If I could get some sort of insight on what folks think the max I might be taxed on it would be, I would feel better.

Thanks all!!

Stac'

[mangmang]

Ok, so I'm shipping a whole bunch of stuff. From what I have read, things are very random there as to how they are priced for customs. I have some questions:

My husband and I will both bring our laptops and an Xbox on the plane with us. Total value of all: about $5000 (my husband has a top of the line laptop for work). Should we just skip bringing receipts? I can't possibly imagine that they would estimate the price to be that high, so I'm hoping with no receipts they will estimate a lower price amount and then tax on that. And I'm still not sure what the tax will actually be-- 5%? 10%?


Also, we will be shipping quite a few boxes via Amerijet. It will arrive there a few days before us and wait at the Frequente office. Most is household stuff and toiletries that I'm not worried about being charged for. I do have one big item of concern: a heavy and new portable air conditioning unit. It cost about $300 and looks new, so that might be a concern since some on the forum advised that if it looks like it can be resold, it will be taxed heavily. I was prepared to pay the shipping fees, but I don't want to get there and pay another $300 or something on it. Also, I don't have the receipt, so who knows what will happen. Maybe I should just try and sell it here and forget the whole thing? If I could get some sort of insight on what folks think the max I might be taxed on it would be, I would feel better.

Thanks all!!

Stac'
hi, u know what i did for my laptop i requested an extra reciept and i will enter my own price, look around here and there and try to get an extra receipt its worth the effort.
BenBehrang

[EV]

***********

[canman]

Ok, so I'm shipping a whole bunch of stuff. From what I have read, things are very random there as to how they are priced for customs. I have some questions:

My husband and I will both bring our laptops and an Xbox on the plane with us. Total value of all: about $5000 (my husband has a top of the line laptop for work). Should we just skip bringing receipts? I can't possibly imagine that they would estimate the price to be that high, so I'm hoping with no receipts they will estimate a lower price amount and then tax on that. And I'm still not sure what the tax will actually be-- 5%? 10%?


Also, we will be shipping quite a few boxes via Amerijet. It will arrive there a few days before us and wait at the Frequente office. Most is household stuff and toiletries that I'm not worried about being charged for. I do have one big item of concern: a heavy and new portable air conditioning unit. It cost about $300 and looks new, so that might be a concern since some on the forum advised that if it looks like it can be resold, it will be taxed heavily. I was prepared to pay the shipping fees, but I don't want to get there and pay another $300 or something on it. Also, I don't have the receipt, so who knows what will happen. Maybe I should just try and sell it here and forget the whole thing? If I could get some sort of insight on what folks think the max I might be taxed on it would be, I would feel better.

Thanks all!!

Stac'



Ok i don't know the exact tax they charge on Electronics but they seem to charge what ever comes to their mind. they charged me $67 US and my laptop cost $1200. on the toiletries they charged me $20 EC- my box weighed about 40 ibs. for the AC unit, they might charge you 110% of its value. Depends on their mood, and if your nice with them.

[stacy_de_lin]

on the toiletries they charged me $20 EC- my box weighed about 40 ibs. for the AC unit, they might charge you 110% of its value. Depends on their mood, and if your nice with them.

What did they charge you for your ac unit?

Stac'

[Belgiandoc]

It all depends. I had no problems i showed them my laptop with the receipt and kept my cell phone, Ipod and 2000$ worth of scuba equipment in my luggage. It helped that I was polite and had my receipt and computer out ready for inspection. The nice man asked me what else was in my 2 suitcases and what was in my mom's 2 others and I answered clothes pillows and towels. Like I said it all depends on how the customs agents are feeling at that time. Someone that came in with me got fined BIG time for being rude and using profanity( rumor, however you may be fined for profanity towards a police officer). More than likely they will bust you for the comps only, make up your own receipt that looks nice and official and do not try to pass it off as a 200$ computer.
good luck

[jaywalk81]

u are shipping down an AC unit?!!!!!!!! wow

[rokshana]

u are shipping down an AC unit?!!!!!!!! wow

If you are living off campus, most houses that rent to students have AC in the bedrooms at least(really all you need) and if you're on campus, its ACed(except GA). You can buy AC units at Courts (not cheap, but saves the hauling)- running an AC doesn't come cheap - about 200-300 EC per month per AC unit(80-120 US).

[jaywalk81]

yea...really dont bother bringing a 40 lbs AC...thats just insane...imagine 40 lbs of food...thats different!
there is AC here...and it can get quite cold too!

[stacy_de_lin]

I already know the place I am renting and it lacks a/c in one part of the house, this is why we're bringing the unit.

I guess at this point I've decided to just ship it, and if they charge me something at customs that is too exorbitant,I'll just leave it there.

Stac'

[orthonut]

:point:

Well you could just put a whole bunch of tampons on top of it, so when they open the box to look at it they'll be too embarassed to look further